Nagpur: Worsening traffic congestion has become a daily ordeal in Dharampeth, where several large commercial showrooms are illegally occupying public footpaths and roads despite having designated parking areas. The situation has turned critical during evening hours, with vehicles parked haphazardly outside upscale outlets along West High Court Road.
With Itwari, the city’s oldest trading hub, now overcrowded, many traders and retailers have shifted to Dharampeth, Gokulpeth, Laxminagar, and Shankar Nagar, opening sprawling showrooms. However, most of these buildings lack adequate parking infrastructure, and even where parking is available, rules are routinely flouted. As a result, customer vehicles spill over onto public roads, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Residents complain that the problem intensifies after dusk, with vehicles crawling for up to half an hour amid loud honking and traffic chaos. Locals allege that both the Traffic Police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have failed to take strict action, accusing enforcement officers of turning a blind eye to influential business owners who have virtually taken over public spaces.
The city’s new commercial belt now extends from Dharampeth and Gokulpeth to Giripeth, Laxminagar, North Ambazari Road, Shankar Nagar, Bajaj Nagar, and VNIT Road, where several national and international retail brands have set up shop. While the retail boom has boosted business activity, it has also brought unregulated parking practices that are worsening the gridlock.
Citizens have voiced frustration over the administration’s continued silence, questioning whether the lack of enforcement reflects mere negligence or the growing influence of powerful showroom owners benefiting from unchecked encroachments.
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